Metal bending machine



Oct. 22, 1935. J. c. SWEENEY 2,018,040

METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1954 "7 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

,JAMEs C. JWb E/YEY Oct. 22, 1935. J. c. SWEENEY METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.

JAME C. fiwss/vfiv ATTORNEY5 Oct. 22, 1935.

J. C. SWEENEY METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 o 1935- J. c. SWEENEY METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct 18, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet -5 INVENTOR.

c/hMEs C SWEENEY ATTORNEYS.

R an Oct. 22, 1935. J c, SWEENEY METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1934 7 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTOR. Jmm C, SWEENEY ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 22, 1935. J c NE 2,018,040

METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed 001. 18, 1 954 7 Sheets-Shet 7 I INVENTOR. vii/v55 C AS WEE/YEY ATTORNEYS Patented on. 22'. 1935 UNITED. STATES- -BATENT OFFICE I v z,01s.040 nm'ran' ammo MACHINE C. Sweeney. Detroit, Mich, assignor tov ernltedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich, a'corporation of Michigan Application October 1a. 1934. Serial No. 748,715 11 *(01. 153-33) This invention relates to a metal bending ma-.

chine and more particularly to a bending machine for metal strips of channel section such as may be used for windowglass frames.

' It is an object of this invention to produce a machine that will bend a strip of metal which may be of channel section so that the original section of the strip is maintainedand so that the bend is smooth and uncrinkled.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the air control mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan 'view showing the position of the die and the ironer toward the end of the bending operation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the position of the various parts of the machine after the bending operation has been completed and before the work is discharged.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine. a Fig. 6 is a section along the line 68 of Fig. 4

immediately after the work has been bent and before the die is retracted to discharge the work. Fig. 7 is a section along the line of Fig. .6. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the air cylinders for the lroner.

Fig.9 is a detail of thework throw out device. Fig. .10 is a detail of the bending die support slide. Figs. 11 and 12 are details of the clamp for clamping the work to the die.

Fig. 13 is a ditic showing of the air lines running to the several air cylinders.

Fig. 14 is a detail of a channelwindow frame which may be bent on this machine.

Fig. 15 is a section along the line -i5--l5 .of Fig. 14. I v

Referring more particularly to the drawings themachine comprises a base I upon whichis mounted a main air cylinder 2. The main air cylinder 2 is provided with a piston 3 having a.

connecting rod 4. The connecting rod 4 is connected to the die support plate 5 by the pin 6. The die I, about which the metal is bent, is carried by support plate 5 which is slidably'and reciprocably mounted in a-suitable guideway 8 in the top 8 of the'frame member i. I The die I, which is shown in the drawings for descriptive purposes only, is shaped to bend a length of channel'section' into the approximately U shaped frame It shown in Fig. 14.

swinging window glass inan improved window assembly. It is understood thatthe shape of This U-shaped frame it is used as a frame for they 14 will vary with the contour of the workwhiehis being bent.

As herein shown (Fig. 15) the work is' of channel section. The head I 4 is provided with a fiat working face l5 which engages against the bottom face It of the channel iii.

The clamp is operated by compressed air. To this end an air cylinder I1 is secured to the underside of the die support block i3. .The air cylinder I1 is provided with a suitable piston andconnecting rod iii, the outer end .of whichis bifurcated and carries the pin i9 which engages the lever ii in the slot 20thus operatively connecting the plunger IS with the clamping lever The bending of the work It about the die 1.

which may be secured by screwsto block l3, into the U-shape frame it is accomplished during the projection of the die I by a pair of ironers 2!. These ironers 21 are arranged to engage the work on opposite sides of the clamp l4 and bend the same around the opposite edges of the die. Since the ironers 2| are each mounted and operated in thesame fashion, only one will be described.

; Each ironer 2| is pivotally supported by a pin 22 between the spaced lugs 23 carried by the reciproa5 eating cylinder 24.

The reciprocating cylinder is carried by the slide or carriage 8| slidably mounted in the inclined guideway 25 (Figs. 1 and?) in the top 9 of the supporting frame. The guideway 25is positioned at an angle. in the present caseof'about' to the guideway 8 in which the die support plate orv carriage 5 reciprocates.

As shown in Fig. 8 the top 9 of the frame work isprovided with an upstanding bifurcated mg 26-. The outer end of the; connecting rod 29 for the-i5 stationary piston 30 within the reciprocating cyl inder 24 is adjustably secured to lug 26 by means of a pin 28 in one of the holes 21. A rod 3| is screwed or otherwise secured to the base of the reciprocating cylinder 24 and coil spring 32 is threaded'over the rod. Coil spring 32 is held on the rod 3| and in abutting relation with the lug 26 by the nut 33. This coil spring 32 is placed I under compression as the cylinder 24 movesinwardlytoward the die 'I and thus assists inthees retraction of the ironer 2| and cylinder 24 upon the completion of the bending operation. The stroke of the cylinder 24 can be increased or decreased by changing the effective length of the connecting rod 29 which is permitted by the adjusting holes 21 and pin 28. The ironer 2| is yieldably held in retracted or inoperative position by the coil spring 34. The working face of the ironer will vary in shape depending upon the section of the work which is to be bent. In the instant case the work I9 is of channel section. Consequently the ironer is provided with a working face in the form of a groove 35 which slidably receives the work and the working edge of the die during the bending operation.

The top of the table 9 is provided with an adjustable stop 36 (Fig. 1) against which the end of the work is placed prior to being clamped to the die 1. This insures proper positioning of the work relative to the die prior to the bending operation.-

The work is bent during the projecting or outward stroke of the die 1. It is desirable that the work be automatically discharged from the die after being bent. To this end a block 31 is adjustably mounted upon the top 9 of the machine frame along each side of the guideway 8. The block 31 has pivotally mounted thereon (Fig. 9) as at 38 the work knockout dog 39. The inner face of the knockout dog 39 is provided with a groove 49 in which the dog engages the die 1.

' A convolute spring 4| yieldably holds the dog 39 against the side edge of the die or against the stop pin 42 when the die is projected.

The air control and air feed lines are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 13. The main air line 45 is connected with the main air cylinder 4 through a valve 46 and the lines 41 and 46. The main air line 45 is connected through the control valve 49 with the cylinder I1 by lines 58 and and branch lines 52 and 53 and with cylinder 24 by lines 59 and 5| and branch lines 54 and 55. The valves '46 and 49 may be a well known commercial product purchasable upon the open market and since the valves per se do not form a part of the instant invention they will not be further described. The air lines connected with the movable cylinders 2, 24 and I1 may be flexible or rubber hose.

' The valve 49 is controlled by the lever 56 and the valve 46 by the lever 51. The machine is started by manual operation of the levers 56 and 51 but automatically stops and discharges the work. The automatic control may take the form of a rod 58 which is slidably supported by a collar 59 fixed to the top 9 of the frame I and is slidably supported in the top 9 as at 66 (Fig. l). The sliding rod 58 is provided with the adjustable arms 6| and 62 which may be held in their adjusted position by any suitable means such as a set screw. The rod 58 is also provided with the adjustable collars 63, 64 spaced on opposite sides of the support 59. A suitable coil spring 65 is threaded over the end of the rod 58 between the collar 63 and the support 59.

The rod 58 (Fig. 2) also carries an adjustable collar 66 whichmay be secured in its adjusted position by a set screw. This collar 66 slidably receives the straight end portion 61 of the bent rod 68. The portion 61 of the rod carries a collar 69 between which and the collar 66 is mounted a coil spring 10. The other straight end portion 1| of the rod 68 is provided with a hooked end 12 and is slidably mounted in a suitable support as at 13. The arm 6| throws the lever 51 into of! position and the hooked end 12 of the rod 66 throws the valve control lever 56 to of! position.

As shown in Fig. 10, the die support plate 5 has adjustably mounted on its underface as at 14, a rod 15 with a hooked end 16, Figs. 6 and 10. 5 During the outward travel of the die support plate 5, the hooked end 16 of the rod 15 picks up the arm 62. The exact point at which the hooked end 16 picks up the arm 62 of the air control mechanism will be varied depending upon the length of the die and the size and type of work that is being'bent.

The operation of the machine is as follows: In Fig. 1 the machine is shown in starting position with the die 1, ironers 2| and clamp I4 in retracted position. At this time the valve control levers 51 and 56 are in their extreme right position shown in Fig. 5 so that the main air line 45 is connected with line 48 through valve 46 and line 41 is open to atmosphere. The main air line 45 at this time is also connected through valve 49 with air lines 5|, 52 and 55 with air lines 50, 53 and 54 open to atmosphere. The work which is in the form of a single strip of metal of channel section is fitted over the front edge of the die with the remote end of the work abutting against the stop 36 to insure the proper positioning of the work relative to the die. The operator next shifts lever 56 to the left into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6. The shifting of the lever 56 to the left through the engagement with the hooked end 12 of the bent rod 68 shifts the rod 68 to the left thereby compressing the spring 10. At this time the main air line 45 is connected with air line 56 and with cylinders 24 and I1 through branch lines 53 and 54 thus causing the cylinders 24 to move inwardly along their trackways so that the ironers 2 I engage the work I II but do not start to bend the same. The ironers 2| are merely shifted toward the work so that they will be in position to bend the work about the corners and side faces of the die when it is projected. By shifting the lever 56 to the left the air is also admitted through line 53 to cylinder H which causes the clamp H to swing inwardly toward the die and clamp the work to the die as shown in Figs. 3 and 11. The work is now in position to be bent.

At this time the operator throws the lever 51 to the left in the position shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 6. This connects line 41 with'the main air line 45 and opens line 48 to exhaust thereby admitting air into the left end of the cylinder 24 causing the plunger 4 and die 1 to be projected or travel outwardly to the right as in- 5 dicated by the arrow Fig. 3. As the'die approaches the ironers 2|, the ironers 2| swivel about pins 22 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, that is, the ironers 2| adjust themselves so that they follow the contour of the corners and side edges of the die 1 and bend the work l0 against the comers and side edges of the die. As the die travels outwardly the rod 15 picks up the arm 62, Figs. 4 and 6, thereby shifting the rod 58 to the right until the arm 6| engages lever 51. The hooked end of rod 1| is already in engagement with the lever 56 and the spring 10 is partially compressed. As the rod 58 travels to the right the compression of the spring 16 is increased until the resistance 70 of the lever 56 is overcome whereupon the lever 56is thrown over to the right to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 6. This opens line 56 to afgnosphere and connects main line 45 with line 5| and branch lines 52 and .55 thereby retracting 7 the cylinder 24 and ironers 2| and the clamp l4 as shown in Fig. 4. At this time the die I is at the end of its outward or projected stroke and the lever 51 is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 6.

With the valve lever 51 in vertical position the main air line 45 is shut off and both lines 4t and 48 are open to atmosphere. The operator next throws lever 51 manually to the right into the dotted line position indicated (Fig. 6). This connects main air line 45 with line 48 which permits air to flow into cylinder 42 thereby retracting the die I to its original or starting position, line 41 remaining open to atmosphere. If desired, the aircontrol mechanism can be adjusted so that as the die 1 reaches the end of its outward stroke, the arm 6| will throw the lever 59 over center to the right hand position indicated in the dotted lines of Fig. 6, thereby exhausting line 41 and connecting line 48 with line 45 causing the die to be automatically retracted upon completing its outward stroke. With such an arrangement the die would beginits return stroke at the same time that the clamp i 4 and ironers 2| were retracted but the clamp l4 would be completely retracted before the work came in contact with the knockout dogs 39.

As the die i is retracted the knockout dogs 39 slidably engage the side edges of the die in the I lines, Fig. 4, and the position of the work it after the ends of the channel frame have been engaged by the knockout dogs 39 at the end of the return stroke of'the die 1 is indicated in the dotted lines, Fig. 1.

Each ironer 2! while inoperative is held in retracted position against a stop 80 on the reciprocating carriage 8| by a coil spring 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) so that the working faces 35 of the ironers are substantially parallel to the work iii when clamped to the front working face of the die '6. As the die 7 is projected on the bending stroke, the ironers first engage the work and then swivel about the corners of the die, while bending the work along the working face of the die, to a position parallel to the side working faces of the die as shown in Fig. 3.

I claim:-

1. A bending machine for bending a metal strip comprising a reciprocating die having a working face along which theametal is bent,

means for securing the work to the die, a yield able ironer reciprocably mounted at an angle to the reciprocable die and projectable into the pathway of the die whereby as the die is projected the yieldable ironer engages the work and bends the same along the working face of the die, and means engageable with the work during the retracting stroke of the die for disengaging the bent work from the die.

2. A metal bending machine comprising a support having a pair of rectilinear guideways positioned at an angle to each other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in each of the said guideways, a die about which the metal is bent mounted on one, of the said carriages and an ironer mounted on the other of said carriages, means for yield-- ably projecting the carriage for the ironer toward the said guideway for the die, and means for projecting the die whereby the ironer yieldably engages the work and bends the same about the working face of the die during the outward stroke of the said die.

3. A metal bending machine comprising a 5 support having a pair of rectilinear guideways positioned at an angle toeach other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in each of the said guide= ways, a die about which the metal is bent mounted on one of the said carriages and an ironer 10 mounted on the other of said carriages, means for yieldably projecting the carriage for the ironer toward the said guideway for the die, means for releasably securing the said work to the die, and means for projecting the die where- 15 by the ironer yieldably engages the work and bends the same about the working face of the die during the outward stroke of the said die.

4. A metal bending machine comprising a support having a pair of rectilinear guideways posi- 20 tioned at an angle to each other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in each of the said guideways, a die about which the metal is bent mounted on one of the said carriages and an ironer swivelly mounted on the other of said carriages, means 25 for yieldably projecting the carriage for the ironer toward the said guideway for the die, and means for projecting the die whereby the ironer yieldably engages the work and bends the same about the working face of the die during the 30 outward stroke of the said die.

5. A metal bending machine comprising a support having a pairof rectilinear guideways positioned at an angle to each other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in'each of the said guideways, 35 a die about which the metal is bent mounted on one of the said carriages and an ironer swivelly mounted on the other of said carriages, means for yieldably projecting the carriage for the ironer toward the said guideway for the die, means 40 for projecting the die whereby the ironer yieldably engages the work and bends the same about the working face of the die during the outward stroke of the said die, and resilient means for yieldably holding the said ironer in retracted position on the carriage whereby the working face of the ironer is in position for engagement with, and bending, the work when the die is projected.

6. A metal bending machine comprising a support having a pair of rectilinear guideways positioned at an angle to each other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in each of said guideways, a die about which the metal is bent mounted'on one of said carriages and an ironer swivelly mounted on the other of said carriages, a clamp for clamping the work to the working face of the die, means operated by fluid under pressure in the form of a oylinder'and piston operatively connected to the ironercarriage and a'cylinder and piston operatively connected to the said 60 clamp for operating the said carriage and the said clamp, valve means for controlling the said fluid operated means for retracting the work clamp and the said ironer at the completion of the bending operation, and means engageable with 65 the work during the retracting stroke of the die for ejecting the work from the die. v

. 7.. A metal bending machine comprising a support having a pair of rectilinear guideways positioned at an angle to each other, a reciprocable carriage mounted in each of said guideways, a

' die about which the metal is bent mounted on one of said carriages and an ironer swivelly mounted on the other ofsaid carriages, a clamp die, means operated by fluid under pressure in the form of a cylinder and piston operatively connected to the ironer carriage and a cylinder and piston operatively connected to the said clamp for operating the said carriage and the said clamp, valve means for controlling the said fluid operated means for retracting the work clamp and the said ironer at the completion of the bending operation, and a pivoted knockout dog positioned along one side of the guideway for the carriage upon which the die .is mountedarranged to engage the end of the work during the retracting stroke of the die to eject the same from the die.

8. A metal bending machine for bending a single length of metal into a U frame comprising a support having a rectilinear guideway, a reciprocating carriage for the said guideway, a die mounted on the said carriage having front and sidework faces, a clamp for clamping the work to the front face of the die with the ends of the work projecting beyond the side faces of the die, a pair of rectilinear guideways positioned one 'on each side of the guideway for thedie carriage and at an angle to the first mentioned guideway, a carriage for each of said pair of guideways, an ironer swivelly mounted on each of said carrlages, and means for yieldably projecting the said carriages and ironers so that the ironers project into the pathway of the die whereby upon the projecting stroke of the die the said ironers engage the work and bend the same about the working faces of the die.

9. A metal bending machine for bending a single length of metal into a U frame comprising a support having a rectilinear guideway, a reciprocating carriage for the said guideway, a die mounted on the said carriage having front and side work faces, a clamp for clamping the work a to the front face of the die with the ends of the work projecting beyond the side faces pf the die, a rectilinear guideway positioned on each side of the guideway for the die carriage and at an angle to the said guideway, a carriage for each of said guideways, an ironer swivelly mounted on each of the said carriages, resilient means for yieldably holding each ironer in retracted position on its said carriage whereby the working face of the ironer is substantially parallel to the work which isclamped on the die, and means for yieldably projecting the said carriages and ironers with the ironers projecting into the pathway of the die whereby when the die is projected the working faces of the ironers engage the work on opposite sides of the clamp and the ironers, while bending the work along-the working faces of the die, swivel from their retracted position to a position with their working faces parallel to the side faces of the die.

'10. A metal bending machne for bending a single length of metal into a U frame comprising a support having a rectilinear guideway, a reciprocating carriage for the said guideway, a die mounted on the said carriage having front and side work faces, a clamp for clamping the work to the front face of the die with the ends of the work projecting beyond the side faces of the die, a rectilinear guideway positioned on each side of the guideway for the die carriage and at an angle to the said first mentioned guideway, a

reciprocable carriage for each of said guideways, 5

anironer swivelly mounted on each of the said second mentioned carriages, resilient means for yieldably holding each ironerin retracted position on its carriage whereby the working face of the ironer is substantially parallel to the work 1 which is clamped on the die, means for yieldably projecting the said carriages and ironers so that the ironer projects into the pathway of the die whereby when the die is projected the working faces'of the ironers engage the work on opposite sides of the clamp and swivel from their retracted position to a position parallel to the side faces of the die while bending the work along the working faces of the die, means for retracting the ironers and the clamp at the completion of the bending operation, and knockout means positioned along the side edges of the guideway for the die carriage for engaging the die, a rectilinear guideway positioned on each side 35,

of the first mentioned guideway for the die carriage and positioned at an angle to the said guideway, a reciprocable carriage for each of said second mentioned guideways, an ironer swivelly mounted on each of the said carriages, resilient 40 means for yieldably holding each ironer in retracted position on the said carriage whereby the working face of the ironer is substantially parallel to, and in position to receive, the work which is clamped on the die, means for yieldably projectmg the said carriages and ironers so that theironers extend into the pathway of the die whereby when the die is projected the working faces of the ironers engage the work on opposite sides of the clamp and swivel from their retracted position 5 to a position parallel to the side faces of the die while bending the work along the working faces of the die, means operated by fluid under pres--v sure in the form of a cylinder and piston operatively connected .to each ironer carriage and a cylinder and piston operatively connected to the said clamp, valve means for controlling the said pistons and cylinders for retracting the work clamp and the said ironers at the completion of I the bending operation, and a pivoted knockout dog positioned on each-side of the die carriage guideway for engagement with the ends of the U frame at the completion of the bending operation and upon the return stroke of the die for ejecting the U frame from the die.

JAMES C. SWEENEY. 

